Citroen's first SUV here in 2012

French brand?s importer said no to Outlander-based C-Crosser but ASX-based C4 Aircross will next year mark Citroen?s soft-roader debut in Australia.

12 October 2011Jez Spinks

Citroen C4 Aircross Photo:

Citroen C4 Aircross Photo:

Citroen C4 Aircross Photo:

Citroen C4 Aircross Photo:

Citroen C4 Aircross Photo:

Citroen C4 Aircross Photo:

Citroen C4 Aircross Photo:

French brand Citroen will make a belated entry into SUV territory in the second half of 2012 with the local arrival of the C4 Aircross.

The company is one of the rare mainstream car manufacturers not to offer a soft-roader in Australia, a vehicle type that is hugely popular both locally and globally.

Citroen importer Ateco Automotive said it couldn?t make a business case for the brand?s first SUV, the C-Crosser that went on sale in Europe in 2007.

The C-Crosser is essentially a rebadged Mitsubishi Outlander - as part of an alliance between the Japanese manufacturer and Citroen parent company PSA which also owns Peugeot. The C4 Aircross, despite its name, is based on the smaller Mitsubishi ASX rather than Citroen?s new hatchback.

Citroen, however, says the Aircross is less of a badge engineering exercise and will have a better chance on capitalising on the ever-growing SUV segment locally and globally.

?There are much greater changes [between Aircross and ASX than C-Crosser and Outlander],? says Citroen?s manager for Asia, Africa, Pacific and French Overseas Territories, Philippe Claverol. ?Although it is true that it is an ASX platform ... we consider this a true Citroen.

?We are seeing worldwide that this market is growing particularly for compact SUVs like Aircross rather than bigger types like C-Crosser. It has much bigger potential [for sales].

In Europe the Aircross will be available in both front-wheel drive and all-wheel-drive configurations, with a choice of 82kW and 110kW PSA-built turbo diesels and 85kW and 113kW Mitsubishi petrol engines.

Local Aircross models are expected to comprise on of the diesels plus the 110kW petrol that's mated with a CVT auto.

The Mitsubishi ASX on which the Aircross is based starts at $25,990 for a FWD model and $32,490 for AWD. The Aircross is likely to be similarly priced.

Car-making compatriots Peugeot and Renault already offer SUVs in Australia. Peugeot sells the 3008 as well as the 4007 that?s twinned with the C-Crosser and Outlander; Renault showrooms feature the Koleos compact soft-roader.